(19)
(11) EP 1 942 456 A3

(12) EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION

(88) Date of publication A3:
07.01.2009 Bulletin 2009/02

(43) Date of publication A2:
09.07.2008 Bulletin 2008/28

(21) Application number: 07122929.8

(22) Date of filing: 11.12.2007
(51) International Patent Classification (IPC): 
G06Q 30/00(2006.01)
(84) Designated Contracting States:
AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC MT NL PL PT RO SE SI SK TR
Designated Extension States:
AL BA HR MK RS

(30) Priority: 29.12.2006 US 617797

(71) Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION
Benton Harbor Michigan 49022 (US)

(72) Inventors:
  • Ebrom, Matthew P.
    Holland, MI 49423 (US)
  • Glotzbach, Mark E.
    Granger, IN 46530 (US)
  • Molloy, Philip A.
    St. Joseph, MI 49085 (US)

(74) Representative: Schaumburg, Thoenes, Thurn, Landskron 
Patentanwälte Postfach 86 07 48
81634 München
81634 München (DE)

   


(54) Product demonstrations system


(57) A product in the form of a household appliance has an internal communications network connecting two or more components, and software architecture implemented on the network that identifies the components, communicates the capabilities of each identified component, communicates the status of each identified component, provides a command interface for operating the components, and facilitates communication between the components and devices external to the product. An external smart device having demonstration software communicates with the internal communications network and is in control of at least one of the components to effect a demonstration of features of the product.







Search report